Greenwich Council’s cabinet has approved two new conservation areas around Charlton Riverside, which it hopes will preserve the area’s historic character as it prepares for huge redevelopment schemes.
Last week’s cabinet meeting heard from local residents, and senior planner Victoria Geoghegan said the decision would “bring a positive approach to placemaking”.
Council leader Denise Hyland said: “We’ve got eight and a half miles of riverfront, and we have to celebrate that and look after that waterfront.”
Woolwich Riverside councillor John Fahy has previously reported on his Facebook page that council planners had come under pressure from a developer to abandon the idea because of the cost of maintaining the buildings.
The first AGM of the new inclusive Friends of Charlton Park will take place on Wednesday 7th March at Charlton House (Old Library) at 8pm.
All welcome.
There’s a chance for everyone to join on the night. And we should be hearing from special guest Jackie Smith – Greenwich Council’s cabinet member for parks.
If you love the park – or have an idea to make it better (Parkrun, anyone?), go along – you’ll be made very welcome.
Plans for a 28-storey glass tower were blocked, while the developer only wants to provide 5% “affordable” housing on the site, compared with 15% for the previous plans. However, it says it will be discussing a “growth scenario” to provide more “affordable” housing with Greenwich Council.
Now a public exhibition will be held at the Millennium Suite in The Valley between 3-7pm on Friday 2 March, and 10am-2pm on Saturday 3 March.
A flyer distributed by Rockwell says “key members of the project team will be on hand to answer any questions”.
Not much to say: The Charlton Conversations website
It also directs residents to charltonconversations.com for more information, but that website is just showing a holding page suggesting visitors go to the council website.
You can wade through all the planning documents and comment by searching for reference 16/4008/F at Greenwich Council’s planning pages. You can also read part one and part two of the lengthy design and access statement, which outlines the proposals.
Charlton’s Big Red Bus Club children’s centre wants your backing in a council-run vote to get £8,000 to replace its windows.
Residents in most of Charlton are eligible to vote in the poll in how to spend the Greenwich Neighbourhood Growth Fund, which is money taken from a levy the council has to charge on developers.
Greenwich councillors decided last year to divide the borough into four areas, which would hold their own online votes on how to spend the money. Most of Charlton has been grouped with Woolwich and Kidbrooke for these votes.
The only Charlton project in this round of voting is for the Big Red Bus Club, the free children’s play centre in Charlton Park.
It wants £8,400 to install new windows: “The project aims to replace windows at Charlton Under-5s Play Centre and refurbish the locks of the metal security grate, bringing both into use after decades of disrepair. It is currently home to the Big Red Bus Club, a family wellbeing centre that runs a range of free services for local families.”
The other projects in the vote are Greenwich and Lewisham Youth Theatre, based in the Royal Arsenal, and a digital inclusion programme on the Woolwich Common Estate.
Please note: it’s definitely windows they’re replacing. Windows.
Live in Peninsula ward? One quirk of this scheme is that if you live in Peninsula ward (north of the railway line and west of Ransom Walk), you’re included in Greenwich and Blackheath’s vote.
Projects very near Charlton vying for your vote in that poll include a digital inclusion programme at Mycenae House, an equipment upgrade at the Blackheath Westcombe Autism Support project based at the Montessori school on Westcombe Hill, a pond-dipping platform at the Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, and new outdoor play equipment for The Bridge play centre in East Greenwich Pleasance. More at www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/growthfund.
What Rockwell says the development’s residential garden areas will look like
The developer hoping to build the first major housing development on the Charlton Riverside has been told it needs to properly consult the local community before Greenwich Council will decide on its plans.
Now they have been told by Greenwich Council that Rockwell has been advised to, and has promised to, consult residents on its proposals.
Led by the Derrick and Atlas Gardens Residents Association, a loose coalition of local organisations has now formed around the proposals, including the Charlton Society, Charlton Central Residents Association and others – with the shock of the Fairview Victoria Way planning decision prompting many to keep a close eye on the Rockwell scheme.
Charlton Society planning chair Roden Richardson said working together and using social media was proving to be effective.
“Any number of people are now contacted simultaneously and instantaneously to distribute a given message,” he said.
“In the case of the latest application that meant all our fellow community stakeholder members and councillors, leading council staff, the Greater London Authority and, of course, our MP, all virtually at the touch of a button. If we handle this kind of thing wisely, it might begin to help a bit to make community and council more like constructive partners than frustrated strangers.”
In total, 11 new buildings are planned for the site, with space for retail and commercial use alongside Anchor & Hope Lane. 210 car parking spaces are planned. But the developer only wants to provide 5% “affordable” housing on the site, although its application says it is in talks with Greenwich Council about a “growth scenario”.
Cratus Communications, the lobbying company which has former Greenwich Council leader Chris Roberts as its deputy chairman, involved in the project. Former Greenwich chief executive Mary Ney is listed on the Cratus website as an “associate”, while one-time Greenwich Labour borough organiser Michael Stanworth heads up the company’s London lobbying operation.
The first Charlton & Woolwich Free Film Festival, in 2016, featured a screening of Shaun of the Dead at the White Swan pub
Got a film that you love and you’d like everyone else to see it? The Charlton and Woolwich Free Film Festival is back for a third year – and it’s looking for people with ideas who can help make it happen.
Part of a network of free film festivals in south London, past festivals have featured Withnail and I and Shaun of the Dead at the White Swan, short films at Charlton House, Battle of Britain at St George’s Garrison Church in Woolwich, and Grease at the Royal Arsenal.
Organiser Gavin Eastley says: “We’re coming back for our third annual film fest with an even better Charlton and Woolwich Free Film Festival in 2018. So to start it all off again we are having an open meeting at Charlton House on Wednesday 21st February at 7:30pm.
“Please come along if you want to manage an evening of film or just have a great idea for a film and/or venue. Spread the word, please. The festival is for everyone.”
Women in Sheds runs on Wednesday mornings until Easter, while Men in Sheds runs on Wednesday afternoons
Another season of Men in Sheds sessions begins at Mycenae House on Wednesday 7 February – and this time the women are coming along too.
Men in Sheds helps men over 50 sharpen – or gain – woodworking skills, helping community projects in their local areas.
It helps men who may otherwise be stuck at home get out of the house, make new friends, learn new skills and help others in their community. You don’t need to be an expert – you just need to have an interest.
Now, after numerous requests, a companion Women in Sheds series is also starting up – so if you’re a woman over 50 who’s good with tools (or would like to be), organisers at Age UK Bromley and Greenwich would love to have you along. You can just come for a chat if you like.
Women in Sheds runs from 10.30am to 1pm on Wednesdays until Easter, with Men in Sheds running from 2-3.30pm on the same days. Cost is £1 (with tea and biscuits thrown in). Call 020 8294 3012 or visit the Bromley & Greenwich Men In Sheds website for more.
Mycenae House’s Seniors Drop-In Cafe, which runs from 1-4pm each Thursday, continues, with participants knitting for community projects. All are welcome – cost is £1 (includes tea and cake).
And next month, Age UK Bromley & Greenwich’s Repair Cafe comes to Mycenae House. Got broken furniture, small electric appliances, bicycles, crockery, toys, phones, computers or gadgets? Don’t chuck ’em – bring ’em along and get them fixed. It’s on Wednesday 21 March from 10.30 am – 3.30pm. Organisers are also looking for volunteers to help out – contact details are above.
The Charlton Champion 